Boys Are Hitting Puberty Earlier

It’s well known that girls are hitting puberty earlier today than they did 40 years ago, but a study suggests boys’ development has sped up, too. Researchers studied more than 4,100 boys and found they hit puberty six months to two years earlier than those in older studies. African American boys developed sooner than both whites and Latinos. The researchers say the results are surprising because factors linked to early puberty in girls (such as obesity or exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals) aren’t associated with early development in boys and may, if anything, delay male puberty.Source: Pediatrics, published online Oct. 20, 2012